The sport of football is being affected by an historic groundbreaking phenomena, naturalization of workforce, inmigration and commercial interests. It is common now to see players from other nationalities, or born in a country where one or both parents are not native from and/or different races in national teams. There is almost no doubt that this issue is being debated in FIFA and other such Federations and organizations.
Such a case is the Mexican National Team, with some foreign players of the local team who have been naturalized, have been called to the roster in recent years and has caused much fuzz in the local media and of course motif of critic by the fans everywhere in the country.
It is to my belief that we must embrace the fact that a sworn naturalized citizen of our country has the legitimate right to wear the Green jersey and is eligeble by right under rules of FIFA and of course Mexican laws. We as mexicans should not discriminate and be intolerable to such changes for we must abide to modern times and social structures of our century and not fall victims of patriotic fanatism and be stubborn to always see an all native mexican roster.
So the questions remain:
Are they better than native mexican players? Do they make a difference in the NT team at all? Fact is they haven't made a reasonable difference and still native players are significantly more qualified for such positions in recent experience. The main reason they justify all their calls have been skill conditions that are needed for certain positions, mostly on the offensive side. Yet we see the same offensive collective struggle to finish up the play and score of the oportunity. And execute poorly as a team as well. But these players still are in their own right to be called for the NT. And deserve their right to prove themselves worthy of a roster spot.
On a positive note there has been some success and favor of players with these characteristics in the past, and succeded in winning a spot in the roster. Such as Luis Roberto Alves "Zague" a mexican born player who parent is Brazilian and played in the league in his day. Another case would be Giovanni Dos Santos, same situation, but in his case he was part of the U-17 World Cup roster, won affection by fans of the country and still is a hope for the Mexican NT in the future.
The other way around goes for Nery Castillo; mexican born raised in Uruguay which put on the negotiation table his eligibility for the NT and even was tempted to play for and was disfavored by the fans, as an example he was eligible for a spot in the 2008 World Cup in Germany which he turned down. Gabriel Caballero, "Zihna", Guillermo Franco, to name a few naturalized players that have occupied roster positions in the NT, have been cause of debate in the national sports media and press. But the responsability very well lies in the coaches who picks them for the lineup.
Sure the situtation has it's vices, which are evident but in sports all that matters is winning and revenue so there is no way this can be evaded. It is the resposability of the executive of the FMF (Mexican Football Federation) to address this matter with honesty and ethics in coordination with the Head coach in turn how to manage the roster and keep the native coaches, players and fans happy as for all are affected and well demand natives a chance to lineup for the National Team. If someone is called up it must be justified, but every Head Coach has his lineup worked.
Ad Lib to the issue at hand: Ehe tension and debate generated not long ago between former NT head coach Ricardo Lavolpe and Hugo Sanchez who criticized Lavolpe for adding naturalized players in the roster, position that got favored by the fans and other coaches, players and team presidents. Then Sanchez himself lined up Lavolpe's naturalized players at the end of his run as head coach of the NT. Some other unfavorable situations is naturalized player self promotion for the NT, for commercial interest, since once lined up raise or their value in the league market.
These examples are the inevitable reality that football has changed and will continue to evolve into new customs and interests. It must not be seen as a problem, but much of the debate occurs in the Massive media for a few ratings points; it is their task to inform the fans that it is inevitable and to which we must abide as fans and we must be tolerant of these players who chose to reside, work and live in Mexican soil, for so they pay their taxes and have same rights and responsabilites and very well enjoy tacos as the rest of us.
As a football fan and follower of the Mexican National Football team, Im not very familiar with the new head coach Sven Goran Ericksson, coming from Sweden, checked this name in Wikipedia and found some information about him. Im not very impressed but seems well suited for experience and well he is Swedish (they have a national team that struggles to go the next step, but has international recognition.) and managed England's National Team for some time and has a career in leagues like Italian Calcio, and Lazio rings a bell.
But is this guy really the right guy for the post? Well some say he don't know spanish, he don't know the Mexican Primera division, don't know the mexican way of managing players or things, most important of all: HE IS NOT MEXICAN! How can this be? Which has been unfairly the main diss against the new head coach.
Fact is most mexican coaches, mexican National team veterans and other Primera division team presidents pretty much like things they way they are and not very prone to change.One of the reasons is that their particular interests might be affected and some important players might see their luck change with a new head coach, maybe not to be called to play again with the National Team.And most head coaches felt maybe even they could be qualified for the job and win the post. Which some might but think overall mexican coaches already had their chance and didn't take the team to some fairly relevant place in any tournament except a Confederations Cup win and maybe some Copa America finals, 3rd place ranks in the same tournament and some memorable games in World Cups. But that was then, and now everyone expects so much on what our Local media has built hype on and cleary overrate the National Team to exagerated proportion.
While some pattern recognition is in order, "the next step" or evolution for the National team expected and desired by all fans is very well in a stall, much from the Hugo Sanchez mistake of giving much hype to the real state of the Mexican football overall stating it has World Cup winning chances, which everybody took to heart since he "is" Hugo Sanchez and he is a winnner. Well he was pretty mediocre as a strategist and his poor group managing skill just exposed him and the real problem of Mexican Football in general. Lack of interest in defending the mexican football, lack of what we can call style, lack of important players in foward and striker positions, and just as simple as lack of goal from the starters and subs in National team. Very much lacking recognition that these problems must be addressed first.
Most of the better players are and/or get spoiled and assume diva positions as they feel they are entitled to demand so and they should have their way, such positions taken by important figures like Rafael Marquez or Pavel Pardo, veterans from as early as head coach Manuel Lapuente days, and some new ones like Carlos Salcido. This should not be as in any other football playing country representing your country you take to heart: its a privilege. You represent your football style, the people who cheer for you and all other cheesy wrongful patriotic fanatism aspects mexican nationals love. One can almost feel these players do it for the money and to keep their hype up. I believe no player is to boycott or ransom on the National team to meet his personal demands. Otherwise you are not a team player and you would be better off the team, we demand these diva actions stop and commit to The Green Jersey with pride and dignity.
On the other hand we got the style problem. Can any fan really tell what the National team plays? Do we really see a pattern of evolution of what was then, when the Menotti era started up to this day? Pretty much stalled to my belief. There must be commitment to develop and envision a style and/or system to be adopted by all mexicans when at play. This means all the way from reserves, all the way to Primera division leagues. To envision how 11 mexicans SHOULD play ever since they are developed as players. A system and strategy to fit the power, skill, body frame, stamina of 11 mexican players.
I don't see it, we just pass and kick around to pleasure everywhere. Football anarchy, but we all know the ball goes in the net right? Well, today that is not enough, and lack of style, system, form and funtion are evident and fans all over speculate much on this. And I very much speak for all WE DONT LIKE HOW FOOTBALL IS PLAYED IN OUR COUNTRY. Call it National o Primera Leagues games you can't enjoy or see much entertainment from them. There must be a coach and team presidents effort to envision this and not commecial success, in fact a losing team is not very commercial altogether!
The Primera league rule of 5 foreigners per team, keeps from developing our own local fowards and strikers, which as been a flaw for years, since most fowards are foreign, even so, with the below 20/11 (years/months) rule still strikers are not being debuted and given minutes in Primera league, they are mostly developed in inferior leagues. When they reach a mature age they still can't compete in the league for lack of minutes. And when one gets a some reasonable media attention, they get overhyped and spoiled over. The need to reduce the quota of foreigners is at sight and to change the rule 20/11 to at least guaranteee a Foward/Striker position per team to at least force development of much needed new talent and try out time for these young players who also get a some experience from underage international tournaments and could be of valor in Primera league games.Then you got your naturalization issue, some of these foreign players that are not that good to begin with are being naturalized to assume a mexican spot in the roster, and much are even speculate to wear the Green Jersey self promoted. Another foreigner problem to add!
So, is really that coach being european the problem? No. The problems are exposed and plain to see, but I'm certain for these to be resolved addressing them first is a start. The change is needed and a coach with his international experience would be desirable, but I think he is not here to resolve these problems but more to lead a squad to a World Cup. When is a real top elite coach being hired? One that can set the bases for the evolve stage and this hopeful next step we all are expecting?
Hope one that is brave and talented enough to assume that the problem is not just to qualify to the World Cup since we are in CONCACAF that is not much of a problem...
One brave enough to face the vices of Mexican football entirely and realize this taboo problems must be addressed for the good sake of Mexican football as we know it.
